Will your Charlotte pool be open in time for Memorial Day? Look it up here.
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and that means public pools will be filled with swimmers of all ages this weekend.
But if your pool didn’t pass an inspection, you may have to wait a little longer to swim.
Each year, seasonal pools are inspected at least once to ensure they are safe for public use, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
Inspectors check each facility for things like water quality, working pool maintenance equipment, sanitation of restrooms and locker rooms, and life-saving devices on site. If a facility has too many problems or at least one severe health or safety hazard, health department officials can shut down the pool until the issues are corrected.
After a 2017 Charlotte Observer investigation found that county officials weren’t requiring a health and safety inspection prior to issuing seasonal pool permits, stricter rules were introduced to ensure facilities were in compliance with health department regulations.
Each inspection is based on a system of demerits, each worth two, four or six points, according to the health department. The final inspection score is the point total of all demerits documented. Here’s how the system works:
Six-point demerits reflect a failure to maintain water quality or minimum pool safety standards, and any pool that receives one is immediately closed until the issue is resolved.
Four-point demerits are rule violations and can result in denial of permits or notices to suspend permits. Pool operators are given 30 days to correct these violations before re-inspection.
Two-point demerits are rule violations that do not warrant permit revocation unless they cause possible hazards.
Out of more than 600 Mecklenburg County pools inspected this year, with scores ranging from 0 to 34, five received a score of 28 or higher, indicating multiple code violations. In some cases, the inspection report shows violations were corrected while the county’s inspector was there.
The average inspection score of each pool inspected pre-Memorial Day was 8, indicating relatively few violations.
The five pools which were issued multiple demerits upon inspection were cited for violations such as debris and buildup on pool walls, high water pH, lack of deck drains and faded diving markers. These pools were allowed to make corrections after the initial inspection, according to the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
Here is a list of permits that have been issued by the county as of Friday.
To see how the local pool in your neighborhood, school, or recreation center scored in its most recent health and safety review, visit Mecklenburg County’s online inspection database. To check permit status, go here. (Tip: Find the pool’s inspection first because the address and/or formal name of your neighborhood pool will be listed and make searching for permits easier).
Other pools not on the list may still not be open if the pool has not been permitted by the county health department yet, or if they did not file an application for the season or have not requested the pre-season inspection.
